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The ease with which we can use technology both delights and
exasperates us. We can now quickly shoot off an email at the
dinner table or while we’re lying in bed, but these obsessive
behaviors tend to also overwhelm us after a while.

That coupled with the notion that technology often plays into
individuals' desires for tiny rewards (how often do you feel
satisfied when someone likes a post or follows you), can create
anxiety, sleepless nights and stress for some people.

For those feeling like technology is taking over your life, it
may be time to practice being human again without the status
updates.

Here are five ways to unplug.

1. Practice mindfulness. It’s not necessarily
technology that we need a break from. Rather, it’s the constant
distractions. One of the best ways to do this is to set aside a
distraction-free block of time each day. Within that time,
practice mindfulness.

2. Reset your internal cycle. Biologically,
life operates on a circadian rhythm. We have cycles of waking and
sleeping to stay alive. Unlike our bodies, technology is
always on; it’s non-cyclical. A detox allows you to
impose a cycle upon your technology use — while it’s constantly
available, you can isolate your interaction by cutting
it off completely and setting a new schedule once you resume
using it. This is much more difficult than it sounds; it’s hard
to turn off your phone or step away from your laptop to initiate
that rhythm. But once you’ve done without, limits seem much more
manageable.

3. Reflect on your goals. Take time to reflect
on your ambitions. What successes have you had that are moving
you toward your goals? You may have already achieved what you set
out to do, but you can’t tell until you actually stop to take a
look at how many mountains you’ve climbed just to get where you
are now.

4. Change your schedule to change your
lifestyle. A technology detox isn’t a one-off program:
It’s a piece of an overall lifestyle improvement. You need to
take care of your whole life, including your friendships and
health.

People need to have periods of activity followed by a break when
they unplug and reflect. Embrace your design: Stay in rhythm.

5. Remember your priorities first. Technology
helps us respond to other people’s priorities --our
inboxes are full of them. But it’s easy to forget your own
priorities when you spend your day responding to others’ needs.

To combat this, I begin my day in teamwork-application Asana rather than in my email. With this
program, I create my own priorities and tasks can be shared with
co-workers. I can then successfully work on my own
responsibilities.